Video

Nowhere to Go: Family Homelessness in America
This new 8-minute film from HEAR US gives viewers insight into the mostly invisible crisis of families experiencing homelessness. From coast to coast, parents, children, and youth share their struggles of life without a home. On June 6, 2017 in the U.S. Capitol, the film was premiered at a congressional briefing on family homelessness, in support of the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HR 1511/S 611).

Chicago Tribune Special Video
In collaboration with the nonprofit Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, a new city program looks to help families who forced to live with others. This short video includes compelling interviews with youth experiencing homelessness about what it is like to have to stay with other people. “To be honest, the shelter was better,” Chrishauna said. “At the shelter we were in our own room. In the morning it wasn’t as chaotic. They had to let the schoolkids get dressed first. It was some organization. Even though you had to deal with bedbugs and things like that, it was better than sleeping on the floor and having to be late for school all the time.”

Cynthia, Invisible People:
Cynthia is a 19-year-old student with a job focused on graduation and her future, but what she doesn’t have is a home. Cynthia has been couch surfing for three years, and is not recognized as homeless by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She spoke to Congress in January about her experiences, and advocated for the Homeless Children and Youth Act.

Help for Homeless Kids:

Michael was homeless in his youth, but the shelter he lived in closed. So he started an organization to help the homeless children and youth who now live on couches or motels, as many as nine people to a room. Because of current regulations, not all of the students in Michael’s district can get help from the government.

Alliance for Excellent Education Video:

Hear directly from youth! Watch this compelling video produced by the Alliance for Excellent Education in 2012, when the Homeless Children and Youth Act was introduced for the first time in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sports Illustrated Video:

In October 2014, Sports Illustrated published an in-depth look at homeless student athletes. SI also created this compelling video, which shows the reality of youth homelessness, including the high risk of abuse when youth have no choice but to stay with others people.

Denver Post Video:

In August 2014, The Denver Post published a comprehensive report on homeless children in the Denver area. The newspaper created a video profiling families staying in motel rooms. Despite high mobility and deplorable conditions, these children are not considered homeless by the nation’s housing agency, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). If an agency were to pay for their motel rooms, they would eligible for HUD services. But the fact that parents use meager disability checks to pay for the motel room rendersthem ineligible for shelter, transitional housing, or permanent supportive housing. The harm to children’s health and development is profound and far-reaching.

Take Action

Tell your U.S. Representative and U.S Senators that all homeless children and youth need help,­ no
matter where they happen to be staying. Take action here.